Connectivity among known populations of the hexactinellid sponge Vazella pourtalesii was simulated using a 3-D biophysical dispersal model throughout its distribution from Florida, United States to Nova Scotia, Canada. We provide the first consideration of larval connectivity among deep-sea sponge populations along the southeastern coast of North America, illustrate the influence of the Gulf Stream on dispersal, and complement published distribution models by evaluating colonization potential. 2Department of Biological Sciences, University of Rhode Island, Kingston, RI, United StatesĮffective conservation management of deep-sea sponges, including design of appropriate marine protected areas, requires an understanding of the connectivity between populations throughout a species’ distribution.1Bedford Institute of Oceanography, Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Dartmouth, NS, Canada.
Shuangqiang Wang 1 Ellen Kenchington 1* Zeliang Wang 1 Andrew J.
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